her hollow heart

chapter 02: the vexation

Maisie's POV:

I'mma be honest. It's been, what? A good few months had passed since Steven's arrival, and for a while, it seemed like he had integrated seamlessly into our group. But beneath his friendly façade lurked something sinister, something that made my skin crawl every time he so much as glanced in my direction. He seemed like a good guy, but my gut just hurls when he looks at me. To be honest, it was really comedic when Steven asked Lucy out, and her swift rejection really added acid to the wound for him. Lucy had made it clear as day from the start that she wanted nothing to do with him, and I respected her for standing her ground. But what happened next sent a chill down my spine. As the group teased Steven about his failed attempt at romance, he suddenly grew tense, his eyes flashing with a dangerous glint.

"Y'all think I'm just some joke, huh?" he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "Well, let me show you just how scary I can be." Before any of us could react, Steven pulled out a steak knife, waving it menacingly in front of us. The sight of the blade sent a wave of panic rippling through the room, and I found myself frozen in fear, unable to tear my eyes away.

Kassian's POV:

I had always been wary of Steven but seeing him brandishing a knife in front of us sent a chill down my spine. His words were like poison, dripping with malice and intent, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were all in danger. As the others scattered, seeking refuge in their rooms, I stood rooted to the spot, unable to tear my gaze away from the glint of the blade. This wasn't the Steven I thought I knew, the friendly face he had shown us all these months. This was something else entirely, something dark and twisted. But as Kasper's sarcastic remarks filled the air, I couldn't help but feel a flicker of annoyance. This wasn't the time for jokes, not when our lives were on the line. And as Jace fell silent, his usual bravado replaced by a look of genuine concern, I knew that we were all thinking the same thing—how had we let things get this far?

Kasper's POV:

Well, this was a fine mess we'd gotten ourselves into. Leave it to Steven to ruin a perfectly good evening with his twisted games and sharp objects. But as I watched him wave that knife around like he owned the place, a sense of unease settled in the pit of my stomach. "Nice party trick, Steven," I quipped, my voice dripping with sarcasm. "But I think we'll pass on the encore." But even as the words left my mouth, I could feel the tension in the room thickening, a silent acknowledgment of the danger we were all in. And as Jace's usual bravado faltered in the face of Steven's aggression, I knew that this was no laughing matter. We were in over our heads, and if we didn't find a way out soon, things were going to get a whole lot worse.

Tallon's POV:

As chaos erupted in the room, my focus narrowed on Lucy, standing there with her back against the wall, her eyes wide with fear. Steven's menacing presence had set off alarms in my head, but my attention was solely on protecting her. She was the only thing that mattered in that moment, and I couldn't let anything happen to her. "Stay back, Lucy," I muttered, my voice low but firm, as I edged closer to her, positioning myself between her and Steven.

But even as I tried to shield her from harm, I couldn't shake the feeling of frustration bubbling inside me. How had it come to this? How had we let Steven infiltrate our group and threaten us like this? I clenched my fists, my heart pounding in my chest as I tried to come up with a plan. We had to get out of here, had to find a way to neutralize the threat before it was too late. And if that meant taking Steven down with us, then so be it. Lucy's safety was non-negotiable.

Mel's POV:

Oh, this was just delightful! The tension in the room was palpable, like electricity crackling in the air, and I couldn't help but revel in it. As Steven brandished that knife, I could practically taste the fear radiating off the others, and it was intoxicating. This was the kind of chaos I lived for, the kind that set my pulse racing and sent a shiver down my spine.

I leaned back against the wall, a smirk playing on my lips as I watched the drama unfold before me. I hum quietly, my voice low but filled with amusement. "Looks like we've got ourselves a little show, no?" I glanced around the room, taking in the wide-eyed stares and nervous whispers, and couldn't help but chuckle. "Anyone care to place bets on how this ends?" But even as I revelled in the chaos, a part of me couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern for us. This is gonna be traumatic, but lore will be sick as fuck! Sure, I loved a good spectacle as much as the next person, but things were getting dangerously out of hand. If someone didn't step in soon, this could end in bloodshed, and that was a mess none of us wanted to deal with, and I was just getting used to not being a manipulative little shit.

Avery's POV:

As Mick and I strolled past the mansion, our attention was drawn to the commotion coming from inside. I raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued, as we exchanged a glance. "Sounds like trouble," Mick muttered, her hand straying to the hilt of her knife. I nodded in agreement, a frown creasing my brow as I quickened my pace.

Pushing open the door, we stepped into the room, taking in the scene before us. A group of people stood huddled together, their faces pale with fear, while another figure, a man with a knife in his hand, loomed over them menacingly. My jaw clenched at the sight, my grip tightening on my own weapon as I stepped forward, ready to intervene if necessary. My eyes swept over the group, they landed on one figure in particular—a woman, small in frame - about 5'2 tops, skinny, self-cut black hair, caught in the middle of the fray, her expression hardened with resolve, but I could taste the fear inside her. There was something about her, a spark of maternal protection in her eyes, I see she takes care of the group, but I could also tell that it drew Ivy in, and I found that Ivy was unable to tear their gaze away. "We need to do something," I murmured to Mick, my voice low but urgent. "Let's put an end to this before it goes any further."

Ivy's POV:

The moment I laid eyes on that girl, standing there with her back against the wall, my heart skipped a beat. There was something about her, something magnetic, that drew me in, and I found myself unable to look away. But as I watched Steven advance on her, his knife glinting in the dim light, a surge of anger welled up inside me. How dare he threaten her like that? How dare he think he could get away with it? I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fought to control the rage bubbling beneath the surface. That girl deserved better than this, deserved to be protected and cherished, not terrorized by some skinny twink with a knife.

But as Mick and Avery stepped forward, their expressions grim, I knew that this was my chance to make a difference. This was my chance to stand up for what was right, to protect wronged women from harm. And as I lunged forward, my own knife glinting in the dim light, I knew that I was ready to do whatever it took to keep her safe. Adrenaline surged through my veins as I lunged forward, my knife glinting in the dim light of the room. Steven's eyes widened in surprise as he caught sight of me, his grip tightening on the blade he held. But before he could react, before he could so much as utter a word, I was upon him.

With a primal roar, I tackled him to the ground, my body moving on instinct alone. He struggled beneath me, his hands clawing at my arms, but I was relentless. My fingers closed around his throat, squeezing tight, cutting off his air supply as I pinned him to the ground. Without a second thought, I plunged my knife into his throat, the blade sinking deep into his flesh with sickening ease. A strangled cry escaped Steven's lips as blood gushed from the wound, staining the floor crimson beneath us. But I paid it no mind, my focus locked on the task at hand. With a savage grunt, I tore my metallic nails into his chest, my clawed fingers digging through warm flesh, pulsing muscle and sinew until I found what I was looking for—the organ of life itself beneath. Without hesitation, I ripped it free from its cavity, holding it aloft in triumph as Steven's lifeless body slumped to the ground beneath me. The room fell silent, save for the sound of my heavy breathing, as I stood there, blood which did not belong to me dripping from my hands, my heart pounding in my chest. I glanced around the room, taking in the shocked faces of those who had witnessed my handiwork, but I felt no remorse, no guilt for what I had done. For in that moment, as I held Steven's still-beating heart in my hands, I knew that I had done what needed to be done. I had protected the girl, had rid the world of a monster, and for that, I would gladly bear the weight of my actions.